John Henry Holland

John H. Holland passed away December 27, 2022 after a brief illness. He was a native and longtime resident of Mobile. He was the son of Joseph Roy and Ruby Mae Peavy Holland. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carol Rodgers Holland. He was predeceased by his parents and brothers Jerry (Demopolis, AL) and Thomas (Houston, TX). He is survived by his three children: John David, Michael (Rhonda), both of Mobile and Deborah (Steve) Gross of Fairhope, AL. He is also survived by his three grandchildren: Douglas Kennedy of Keystone, CO, Dr. Michael (Charlotte) Holland, Jr. of Anderson, SC, and Matthew Holland of Birmingham, AL. He also leaves behind a brother, Edwin “Bubba” Holland of Lumberton, MS, a sister, Carolyn Jones of Mobile, a sister-in-law, Dixie Holland of Houston, TX, and a brother-in-law, John Rodgers of Mobile, AL, as well as many nieces and nephews.

John was a 1953 graduate of Murphy High School and attended the University of Alabama, Mobile Center. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Germany. He completed a 40-year career with Delchamps, Inc., where he began as a bag boy and retired as a Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, he guided the company from a privately held company to a publicly traded one.

Following his retirement, he served the community as a member of the Mobile County School Board, beginning in 1994. During his tenure with the board, he served twice as both President and Vice-President. Significant accomplishments during his service on the board included improving the financial condition of the school system, upgrading its bond ratings which allowed a substantial building campaign and establishing the precedent of having an outside annual audit of school system finances published in the local newspapers, a process that continues today.

John was a Past President and Emeritus Life Member of both the Mobile Chapter of Data Processing Management Association and the Mobile Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants. He was a Past President of the Delchamps Credit Union, the Theodore High School PTO, and the Theodore High School Stadium Committee. He was a long-time member of a mystic society.

Pallbearers will be Douglas R. Kennedy, Dr. Michael R. Holland, Jr., Matthew M. Holland, Jeff T. Holland, E. Crosby Latham III, and Harvey A. “Bo” McClinton, Jr.

Visitation will be at Pine Crest Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 10 a.m., with services to follow in the Pine Crest Chapel at 11, and graveside services at noon.

The family requests memorial donations be made to Feeding the Gulf Coast, 5248 Mobile South Street, Theodore, Alabama 36582, www.feedingthegulfcoast.org, or to the charity of your choice.